Cities of Vanadium: Technological Development and Post-Industrial Transformation in Emalahleni, Nizhny Tagil, and Panzhihua

Abstract

The paper investigates the trajectories of social and economic development of second-tier single-industry cities specializing in metallurgy of vanadium under the circumstances of post-industrial economy. In the middle of 20th century, a technology of processing titaniferous ore made it possible to use vast deposits of previously unexploited natural resources to produce steel and vanadium. The large integrated steel mills were erected in Witbank (Emalahleni) in South Africa, Nizhny Tagil in Russia, and Panzhihua in China. Being industrial monotowns dependent on mining and metallurgy, these cities were seeking for diversification which could provide sustainable development. Such diversification was generally following two directions: either establishment of belt of smaller technological enterprises and creating section of product with higher added value, or growing the system of industries of culture, leisure, and health. While Emalahleni failed in striving for diversification due to boom in coal industry, which ultimately led to bankruptcy of its steel industry, Nizhny Tagil and Panzhihua remained successful steel-making centers even in 21st century. However, even economic success and focused attempts to diversify city’s economy by means of creative reindustrialization were circumscribed by the cultural and environmental issues caused by the very fact of such industrial survival.